For all the people complaining about Braid's price

Jonathan Blow writes: "When all those people on forums complain about the price of XBLA game, what they don't realize is that almost everyone is losing money on these games. (It's just economy of scale; if only 60,000 people buy a game, and it costs $10, not enough money ends up in the developer's hands to justify anything but making shovelware.)

For me to truly break even (i.e. not be financially punished for choosing to make this game), I would have to earn back:

(1) The testing, localization and ratings board submission advance that was put forth by Microsoft. (This is a significant chunk of money.) (2) All the money I paid other people to work on the art, sound, and extra programming. (This is A LOT). (3) Replace the savings I spent for cost-of-living, buying software and hardware, and stuff like that, during the years spent developing Braid. (4) Pay back other misc debts that accrued during this time due to me being broke and / or focusing money on finishing the game (e.g. the taxes I did not pay last year.. that's sizable). (5) If I hadn't been working on Braid, I would have had a job for those years, so… years worth of income at a reasonable-to-high-end job. (Realistically speaking, this part is just not going to happen - I used to do game technology consulting and bill at a very high hourly rate. So rather than expecting to make that, my attitude is just, to make *something* reasonable)..."

Because there's games, from recognised developers, that cost a lot less than that.

1,200 is far, far too much for an unknown developers first game. I appreciate that a lot of work has gone into it and from the demo I know it's a good game, but it's just about over what I'm willing to pay for a download.

I don't mean to sound harsh but this guy might as well just ask for donations. If they cut the price more people would buy. its tough for indie developers but there are always risks.

I really do hope the game does well though. I want the game to sell well. Perhaps releasing it on pc and ps3 might help recover some of those costs. But apparently there was an exclusivity arrangement from microsoft so too bad

I personally haven't played it because I don't own a 360 but if its a good game who cares who makes it If its as good as everyone says $15 dollars is a steal...it runs like $10 to go to the movies for 1 person $15 isn't that much

Is why he put so much into his first game. He should know better from a business standpoint. That's just way too much financial and time invested for something that could have easily flopped, and he'd have nothing to fall back on.

Giving up jobs to go into debt for something you won't see returns on for years (since that's how long he was working on it apparently) is not smart at all if you don't have some sort of backup plan.

If just sounds like he didn't really think this all through when he started from a business standpoint. His game could be the best game ever, but it just sounds like he put way too much into it to make it a smart business investment.

exactly what i was thinking as great a game as this may be (and it is FUN,) it appears he made some poor judgement in his development process in business terms. He should have asked for donations during the development process which i must admit porbably wouldn't have netted him much, implement some for of promo agreement with MSFT or sponsorship with MSFT as this game had some great marketing before it launched etc.

Mixed feelings about this since I just downloaded the game today and already beat the game within 3-4 hrs. There is no replayability in my opinion. It was an interesting endeavor, I must admit, for a "first game" for this developer. Was it worth the money? Not in my own opinion. I originally purchased it because of all the ratings hooplah it was getting. Should have known better. Not going to get into the argument that he is or isn't charging a reasonable price however, I don't agree with some of his reasonings for the price either. To not have another job for the entire development process is just assinine for a new developer unless they can afford to do it. There are other new developers out there doing it in their spare time. It may take a little longer, but what the heck... if it is worth it. Taking loans, etc in this age of financial gloom is silly. I would highly recommend everyone play the demo first before paying for the full game just to make sure you find it enjoyable. For those comparing this "platformer" to Super Mario... that is a bit of a stretch. I won't spoil it for you (if you plan on purchasing this game), but the puzzles are fairly simple once you realize the potential of the character's only ability (nope...moving left/right or jumping doesn't count). He did a good job but it does not deserve the ratings it is getting nor the price to me anyways. If you like the demo... then buy the game... just a little more of the same.

I'm sorry, but if a person has the confidence and faith to step out and work on something he's passionate about, he should be justly rewarded. Johnathan Blow stepped out on faith when he decided to make this labor of love and hoping that it would show other developers that you can truly make a fantastic game without using that multimillion dollar revenue and the hype machine that other games use (i.e. halo, call of duty, any mainstream game).

Braid is an awesome game, I had fun playing it and once I get my paycheck I'm gonna purchase it and contribute to a person who's truly trying to push the medium of video games forward. The effort he put into it is should be enough to justify the price, but the gameplay and the genuine idea of the game speaks for it.

Everyone that's hating on the game cuz of price, you should be ashamed to call yourself a gamer.

I'm making indie games right now at no loss, and don't really care if I make money. The difference? I'm not whining about it. You can't have it both ways and come out smelling like roses. If you want it to be a successful business venture (what I was referring to), then you have to look at it from a business perspective, and he just put way too much into it (or rather, put off way too much to do it).

I support his accomplishment from a gaming perspective, I just don't think he should be upset about losing money when he decided to be unemployed for years to complete it. You can hold even a full time job and program a game at the same time if you need to. He made the choice to dedicate his time to the game. That was his choice. He has to live with it instead of whine about it. That's all I'm saying.

If gamers don't think the game's worth the price, it'll come down eventually. I see no reasoning for complaining. It's not like they're forcing anyone to pay that price cause you have a choice.

The game will only sell at the price and do well if gamers think it's worth it.

But this article can cry me a river though. If developers don't make money on VGs then they shouldn't make VGs. The fact that new developing companies are springin up like crazy indicates developers knw they can make a killing with VGs it's just you have to make a decent one and market it right or you won't make money... isn't this how it is in the real world with every other business?

...hes just explaining why everyone shouldn't be complaining so much about the expense. The two things aren't mutually exlusive. I'm sure hed love to sell it for $10 bucks, but its still a bargain at $15.

People need to quit pretending its the money that is prohibative and admit that its their own taste. If it was a COD4 expasion, they'd gladly pay for it and play the same old stale FPS they've been playing for years/months (don't get me wrong. love COD4 - but variety is the spice of life and a little art is a nice change of pace to mainstream entertainment, no matter how well done it is).

...Your comment may very well be true for you solidsnakus, but for the average dolt? Most of you morons have spent upwards of 60 dollars attending the 4 Scary Movie sequels, Meet the Spartans, Epic Movie, etc. In a perfect world such people would not only not buy this game, but they would be prohibited from playing becasue THEY are not good enough for IT. Excuse me, but in a perfect world such people would be spayed and neutered. (except in comparison they make me look even smarter and more attractive, so god bless 'em).

desperation at is lowest. Everybody has cancelled there accounts & just uses the free trials. nobody dumb enough to buy a download game on a xbox! Everybody knows microsoft points on xbox live make everything more expensive. Microsoft is trying to keep people online & buy a $5.00 game for $15.00. That's $10.00 for leftover points! $10.00 to rent movies after half a day of downloading them & then delete. For 10.00 I own a few movies from psnetwork & "braid" can go straight to my psp. I so happy I dont have to deal with m$ points & malfuntioning hardware. Get a grip & quit trying to sell this game & too human too! there's probly a huge ad for it on the dashboard that reads "BUY NOW!" sickening.

kid your like on every 360 story trying to bash it. you act like if micro banged out your mom had you and never sent her child support. get a life, we get that you dont like the 360 now move on. go watch some mgs4 or read up on the games that you're still waiting for..

First he says he was trying to make it cheaper,, and now hes contradicting what he said before. Anyways, if he is so worried about dev cost and all that, all he had too do was use XNA. The same tools used to make this game. His last name fits his character. He can blow alright.

Besides that fact, I think its funny how hes talking about him not having enough money if he doesnt charge X amount for games. He has to realize that times are tough. Their are millions of people out there that cant even buy enough food to feed their familys, but he wants to over charge an xbla game so he could get that Dodge Viper he always wanted.

I bet all he does is go to strip bars since this games release. Hes a loser, and anybody with a good imagination could have made a game equivalent to Braid with XNA tools. He's a douche, and I hope people dont buy this game. Its overrated,,, 9.5 score at gamespot? It got a better score then COD4. Talk about fanboyism.

From anyone who has played the game, they will tell you its well worth the price. Also if its a good game, then who cares how much it costs, I bet in a week most people will waste more then $15 on something less aspiring and far less beautiful then Braid. Even though its short its so good, the puzzles are so well done, and the game offers a fantastic experience. Plus if you want replayability it has a speedrun mode where you have to complete levels in a short amount of time.

Agreed mate, this game is an interactive masterpiece, the best new experience in years. I can see the personal concepts intertwined between the puzzle/platforming elements, flying over most heads, but for those who 'get' this game, it's an honour to play.

I see... you have to "get" this game to understand its simple mechanics and fairly straightforward puzzles. I am happy that you liked it (and "got it") but to declare it an "interactive masterpiece" is very misleading. i personally thought I wasted my money. It is a very simple "platformer" (stretching the term to it outermost limits) with some intersting "nostalgic"-feel graphics. It is a niche title at best IMO.

BUT !...... if he, they, Dev's ... charged LESS for their software, they may find a lot more people buy them ( maybe a 100,000 or 200,000 ) hence they would make their money back.

If a game is just average, but its cheap i am much more likely to buy it, then a game that is good, maybe even very good, but way over priced.

so maybe thats something to consider. not that i am an expert on this matter, i am just a consumer and one of the people that fall outside of that 60,000 group, not because the game is bad, but because i am not willing to pay for it.

I would think most who have posted are not trashing the game itself. It is okay but nothing stellar for an arcade title. He has every right to request whatever he wishes for a price; however, what he is asking is a little much for an overhyped product. And yes... I have played through the entire game today.

I pay 15 euro's for a drink in a bar and it only takes 15min to empty my glass. BRAID is a good game and it's my first arcade game for 1200 points. I never pay more then 800 points but BRAID is no cheap remake of an old classic. Brade is an exeptional game made by a very tallented guy.Also my regards to the art team. I pay with pleasure for this kind of original masterpiece....even when it last for 5-7 hrs.

Braid's the best game I've played this year. It's as good as Portal, and very similar, simpler in execution but more inventive and cunning in its puzzles and gameplay ideas. There's so much that's totally new here.

I'd be very surprised if it doesn't get ported to the PS3, and maybe the Wii too. I'm even going to resist making a frame rate gag here.

I really hope it turns into a massive hit, and Jonathan Blow makes a lot of money from it, and its success encourages other independent developers. this is what XBLA should be full of, ditto the PS and Wii equivalents, not pointless 80s arcade conversions.